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Ranger boat on display at White House

SCOTT LILES, Baxter Bulletin
Published 8:00 p.m. CT July 24, 2018

Flippin manufacturer featured in 'Made in America' showcase

President Donald Trump talks with professional angler Jimmy Houston about the Ranger Icon bass boat on display Monday at the White House. Ranger Boats of Flippin was one of 50 manufactures invited to display a product at the 'Made in America' showcase on the South Lawn on Monday.(Photo11: Photo submitted by Ranger Boats)

A bass boat manufactured by Flippin’s Ranger Boats was displayed at the White House on Monday as part of President Donald Trump’s “Made in America” product showcase.

The display, which capped a week-long series of events recognizing American-made products, included a Ranger Z521L Icon parked on the South Lawn of the White House.

“For the past 50 years, Ranger Boats has called Arkansas home,” said Matt Raynor, marketing director for Ranger Boats. “The people of Arkansas are a vital part of our company DNA. Ranger is committed to producing the highest quality American-made products and we do it right here in Flippin with dedicated, hardworking employees. We are honored to represent our great state and the people we call family, friends and neighbors.”

The “Made in America” showcases were begun last year by President Trump and highlights 50 products, each one manufactured in a different state. Some of the other items on display Monday included a Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter plane from Maryland, a Ford F-150 pickup truck from Michigan and a Newmar recreational vehicle from Indiana.

“We’re here today to celebrate the greatest products in the world,” President Trump said in an address Monday from the South Lawn. “Products made with American heart, American sweat and American pride. We’re thrilled to showcase incredible American-made goods from all 50 states.”

Ranger Boats ambassador and professional angler Jimmy Houston showed off the red-and-black Icon to the president during Monday’s event. A Ranger Boats post on Facebook showing President Trump and Houston talking in front of the boat has generated a slew of reactions, with thousands commenting or sharing the post.

“We put that up on Facebook, and it really blew up,” Raynor said. “People are sharing it, commenting on it. It’s probably going to be one of our top posts.”

President Trump credited the assembled manufacturers with helping spur what he called “a great economic revival in the United States.”

“The era of economic surrender for the United States is over, and you people have been really leading the charge. America is fighting back, and we’re winning again,” President Trump said. “You know my story about winning? ‘We’re going to win so much, you’ll get tired of winning’? I don’t think you’re going to get tired,” the president said, drawing a round of laughter from the assembled manufacturers.

A Ranger Z521L Icon bass boat is parked on the South Lawn of the White House on Monday. The boat, which was manufactured in Flippin by Ranger Boats, was one of the products featured in the 'Made in America' showcase Monday.(Photo11: Photo submitted by Ranger Boats)

Raynor said that Ranger Boats was “beyond proud” to be invited to the 2018 showcase.

“We have been fortunate here at Ranger to do a lot of cool things, but nothing like this,” he said.

The limited-edition Icon celebrates Ranger Boats’ 50-year legacy in the boatmaking industry. The first Ranger boats were built in 1968 by Forrest and Nina Wood in downtown Flippin. The company is now owned by BPS Direct LLC, which operates outdoors retailer Bass Pro Shops.

“It’s a tremendous honor to have our 50th anniversary Z521L Icon on display at the White House,” Raynor said. “The boat reflects both our past 50-plus years of innovation in boat design and performance as well as the promising future of continued success and growth as the country’s premier fiberglass and aluminum boat manufacturer.”

The Ranger Icon was delivered to the South Lawn by longtime Ranger dealers Brian and Chris Lancaster of MARE Inc. of Thurmont, Md.

“Every time a new factory opens — every time jobs are returned to our shores — every time we buy a product made by our own American neighbors, we are renewing the bonds of love and loyalty that link us all together as Americans,” President Trump said.